English

Chaucer by Ted Hughes

'Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote The droghte of March, hath perced to the roote...' At the top of your voice, where you swayed on the top of a stile, Your arms raised- somewhat for balance, somewhat To hold the reins of the straining attention Of your imagined audience- you declaimed Chaucer To a field of cows. And the Spring sky had done it With its flying laundry, and the new emerald Of the thorns, the hawthorn, the blackthorn, And one of those bumpers of champagne You snatched unpredictably from pure spirit. Your voice went over the fields towards Grantchester. It must have sounded lost. But the cows Watched, then approached: they appreciated Chaucer. You went on and on. Here were reason To recite Chaucer. Then came the Wfy of Bath Your favourite character in all literature. You were rapt. And the cows were enthralled.

They shoved and jostled shoulders, making a ring, To gaze into your face, with occasional snorts Of exclamation, renewed their astounded attention, Ears angling to catch every inflection, Keeping their awed six feet of reverence Away from you. You just could not believe it. And you could not stop. What would happen If you were to stop? Would they attack you, Scared by the shock of silence, or wanting more- ? So you had to go on. You went on- And twenty cows stayed with you hypnotized. How did you stop? I can't remember You stopping. I imagine they reeled away- Rolling eyes, as if drivien from their fodder. I imagine I shooed them away. But Your sostenuto rendering of Chaucer Was already perpetual. What followed Found my attention too full And had to go back into oblivion.

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I've also started to enjoy more literature now that I've been traveling the last year or two. I got some inspiration to hit the road by reading On the Road, by Jack Kerouac
And from there I moved on to Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

After getting over my John Grisham stage, I had a tendancy to avoid reading too many books by the same author. Although I have to admit, that Maeve Binchy is the exception. I think my Irish background makes me a little more interested in her characters and have enjoyed everything that I've read by her. I remember reading "Light a Penny Candle" this summer in California. I would read it on the BART, commuting to and from work, and on the weekends just laying in the sun. That book will always remind me of that summer and that's so much of what I like about books. They become so much more a part of your life than just watching TV or a movie can.
Other books by Maeve Binchy:
~ The Copper Beech
~ The Evening Class

But lately I've discovered used book stores and all the incredible books they house. I'm making my way through them. Some I've just stumbled upon, some are considered classics. I am grateful for suggestions though, and am pleased with these lists.
Lists of Great Books

I also have a new appreciation for poetry. I am in awe of so many poets who have been able to capture images and ideas so beautifully and efficiently. I rejoined Quality Paperback Book Club this year, and received, as one of my first books, a collection of poetry. When I opened it up, it totally revitalized me, and although it sounds a little surreal, it was one of the oddest experiences I've had. I'm attributing it more to a lack of sleep than anything else, but regardless, it, as well as a lot of other poetry lately, has had an overwhelming effect on me.

Other than Ted Hughes and Walt Whitman other poems I've really liked are:
~These Winter Sundays
~Purple Cow

Ideally, I would love to combine my love for reading and writing, with my love of Finance. It seems like a strange combination, but I'm looking ahead to someday writing for the
Wall Street Journal
Of course that would mean, New York City would be an obvious place to habituate. But unfortunately that conflicts with my love of cities like Boston and San Francisco. New York is impressive in all aspects, but for the moment it just doesn't seem like a place to call home. So that's an issue I must grapple with over the next few years... But in the meantime, I would be thrilled to work for a publishing company and learning the business. There are so many different avenues to consider, and I just trying to find one that works will allow me to make the biggest contribution. My biggest fear is finding a job that leaves me feeling like the work I do, just isn't making a difference.

Writing
is one of the ways that I feel like I can communicate all the seemingly random thoughts that I have. On paper I can explain myself and connect all those ideas that, by themselves, aren't that significant.
Expressivists believe that writing allows the authentic voice to develop truths. And although I don't agree with a lot of the close minded thinking of the expressivists, I do think that writing can lead to a greater understanding. According to The Annenberg/CPB Project, like a great journey, literature can show you things you have never seen before and will never forgetWriting is one of the keys to communication. And for that reason, it is one of the most powerful tools available to us.

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